Machine for calculatively interpreting perforated cards



G. TAUSCHEK July 4, 1933.

MACHINE FOR CALCULATIVELY INTERPRETING PEREORATED CARDS Filed March 1,1928

ATTORN EY- Patented July 4, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUSTAV TAUSCHEK, or VIENNA, AUSTRIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE TABULATING MACHINE COMPANY, or ENDICOTT, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY MACHINE FOR CALCULATIV ELY INTERPRETI'NG PERFORATED CARDS Application filed March 1, 1928, Serial No. 258,239, and in Austria March 24, 1927.

This invention relates to machines for calculatively interpreting the values represented by the perforations of perforated cards and has particular reference to a devlce by means of which it is possible to add the numbers represented in a plurality of card fields of a single card, each field preferably constltuting a number of columns. By means of such a device, it is, for instance, possible to automatically determine the final sum to be paid a workman which is the result of the summation of the values represented by a plurality of card fields, designating, for example, wages, additional wages, compensation for over-time, etc.

The essence of the invention resides in the feature of having only one group of analyzing brushes relating to a particular card field connected at a time to control the entries in the accumulator, and after analyzing this card field, a connection between the analyzing brushes for the next card field 1s established to control the entries designated by the second card field in said accumulator, so that after a successive number of such analyzing operations, corresponding in number to the card fields, the result of such analyzing operations is represented by the accumulator.

The device constructed according to the invention may be mechanically or electrically operated.

The accompanying drawing represents one embodiment of the invention shown as employing electrical operation.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of card shown perforated according to the Tauschek system to rep resent seven arbitrary values corresponding to a like number of card fields.

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating a modification of certain electrical connections employed.

Fig. 4 is a detail of a shaft return device.

The card 1 shown in Fig. 2 is perforated according to the Tauschek system, the digital value of each column of perforations being suitable means in the direction of the card columns, and in only one direction of movement the brushes sweep over the card and engage a metal plate 1 through the perfora-' tions. The metal plate 1' is connected to the negative line side of battery B. I

In each extreme position of the yoke 2, contacts 2' thereon contact-one or the other of contacts 4 and 5, both of which are electrically connected to one side of a magnet 6, the other side of the magnet being connected to the positive side of battery B. The negative side of the battery leads to the contacts 2', to therefore result in the energization of the magnet 6 in each extreme position of yoke 2.

The extension of the armature of magnet 6 operates a pawl 6' pivoted thereon so as to turn a ratchet wheel 7 a step for each energization of magnet (3. Ratchet wheel 7 is secured to a shaft 8.

Arranged upon the shaft 8, in radial alignment or in one plane, are radially extending contact arms or blocks 9. The shaft 8 is surrounded by a cylinder 7 of insulating material which is coaxial with shaft 8. The inside of the cylinder carries as many groups of contact blocks 10 as there arecard fields, each group parallel to shaft 8 being connected by a series of wires 8' to the related set of brushes 3.

The connection between the brushes 3 and the contact blocks 10 is such that the contact blocks 10 related to the brushes of one card field are arranged upon a generating line or element of the cylinder. The lines of the cylindrical contact arrangement are thereby carried by the shaft 8 will contact with a formed by as many contact blocks 10 as there are columns in a card field, while upon a 011'- cumferential line as many contacts blocks 10 are provided as the perforated card hasfields, seven as shown by way of example in Fig. 2.

Each of the contact blocks 9 of the shaft 8 is, by means of a conductor 9 connected to one side of the related magnet171 of the accumulator 29 which, in the manner fully explained in Patent #1,617,088, controls the entries in the related elements 172 of the accumulator. Therefore, impulses are directed by conductors 9' to cause energization of such magnets 171, as the other sides of all magnets 171 are connected to the positive line side of battery B by a wire 171a and which common return wire 171a may be enclosed in the cable with the conductors 9', as shown in Fig. 1.

The preferred form of accumulator 29 comprises that shown in the British Patent #289,055 and is also shown in Fig. 1. In the manner described in the British patent and Patent #1,617,088 the magnet 171 of the related accumulator wheel 17 2 is energized by electrical impulses as often as contact is established by means of the related brush 3 of the set which is in use entering a card hole. Each of the brushes 3 of the set in use is, of course, as stated, in series connection with the related magnet 171 of the series. In order to effect the entry, each accumulator wheel is provided with a ratchet wheel 151 which is engaged by a pawl 161 connected to the armature of the associated electromagnet 171. This pawl is suitably spring pressed to engage the ratchet wheel 151 and the usual retrograde preventing pivoted pawl 174 may be used to prevent backward turning of wheel 172.

The energization of magnet 171 causes the pawl 161 to be operated to such an extent that the ratchet wheel 151 is turned a distance of one tooth.

The transfer mechanism is fully explained in the British Patent #289,055 and as described briefly herein comprises a pawl 181 which is rocked clockwise when a wheel passes through zero thereby withdrawing its projection 182 from a projection 183 of a lever 184 which is thereby rocked so as to prepare a circuit to the next higher order -magnet to effect a transfer.

The brushes 3 and the contact blocks 10 carried by the cylinder may be plugged by employing any conventional plugging devices such as a plug So at the end of a conduc'tor 8' and a jack 8b which is electrically connected to the related one of the brushes 3. By plugging in any desired manner control operations by any field may be excluded, or the order of analyzing the fields may be altered.

After the complete analyzing of the card by the sets of brushes 3 the shaft 8 will be so turned that a radial contact element 11 contact block 12 thereby closing a circuit of the magnet 19 (which will not be traced as it is obvious) to cause energization of the same.

A casing 13 is provided (see Fig. 4) in which is fitted a coil spring 13 similar to that employed in typewriters for shifting the carriage, the spring 13 being wound as shaft 8 is stepped. One end of the spring 13 is secured to the shaft 8 and the other end to the casing 13 and the latter is held stationary with respect to shaft. 8. This is preferably ell'ected by having integral ears 13a (Fig. 4) of the casing 13 receive a pair of stationary studs or rods 13?). Each successive position of the shaft is maintained by a spring pressed pawl 14 cooperating with ratchet wheel 7. Vhen the-magnet 19 is energized it rocks a double lever 17 pivoted by a rod 18. Lever 17 carries two pins 16 and 15, the former disengaging pawl 14 from ratfhet wheel 7 and the latter disengaging paw 6' from ratchet wheel 7 and only when lever 17 is rocked.

-At other times pins 16 and 15 permit e11- gagement of pawls 14 and 6' with the ratchet wheel 7.

lVhen both pawls 6 and 14 are shifted the coil spring 13' in the casing 13 will be effective to return shaft 8 and contact blocks 9 to normal position at which time the contact blocks 9 are correlated with the first set of contact blocks 10.

In accordance with the modification disclosed inFig. 3 contact blocks 10 may be carried by a closed cylinder 7 so that after shaft 8 with the contact blocks 9 occupies its extreme rotated position it need not be returned to normal by a rotation in the opposite direction, but may be brought to the starting position by simply turning shaft '8 a step in the forward direction. In this case the conductors 9' between contact blocks 9 and magnets 171 of .the accumulator cannot, of course, be used as shown, and collector rings 9a are preferably provided on a cylinder which may constitute shaft 8.

In the modified arrangement contact blocks 9 are connected to collector rings Or; by conductors 9?) preferably within the cylinder which may constitute shaft 8. lVhen such a construction is employed the release mechanism comprising elements 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 are not necessary.

IVhat is claimed is:

1. In a machine for sensing cards each card having a plurality of columns of perforations, each subdivision of the card columns comprising a card field, an accounting mechanism for adding numbers represented by said card fields, several sets of sensing devices.

one set forj each card field. means for eontrolling the operation of the accounting mechanism by the sensing devices of onlv one of said card fields at a time. and automatic mechanism effective for establishing in succession after each sensing operation except the last a control between the accounting controlling mechanism and the sensing devices of each of the card-fields so that after a numher of sensing operations corresponding to the number .of fields the result of all the sensing operations is shown in the accounting mechanism.

2. In a machine controlled by cards having columns of perforations, a plurality of columns comprising a card field, an accounting mechanism for adding the numbers represented by said card fields, a sensing device for each card column, a bar upon which said sensing devices are mounted, said bar adapted to be oscillated in the direction of the columns of perforations, contacts forming part of an electric circuit and arranged to be closed by said bar in each end position thereof, and an electromagnet in said circuit operable to effect a control in succession by each of said card fields for the accounting mechanism.

3. In a machine controlled by cards having columns of perforations, a plurality of columns comprising a card field, an accounting mechanism for adding the numbers represented by said card fields, a sensing device for each card column, thesensing devices being arranged in groups corresponding to the card fields, means for controlling the entries in the accounting mechanism, said means including several groups of contact pieces, and conductors related to said accounting mechanism connecting each of said groups of sensing devices by the related group of contact pieces for control of entries of the related card field of the perforated card and electromagnetic means for automatically controlling a suzcessive relation between said conductors and the several groups of contact pieces.

4. In a machine for sensing cards having columns of perforations, a plurality of colmnns comprising a card field, an accounting mechanism for adding the numbers represented by said card fields, a sensing device for each column, the sensing devices being arranged in groups corresponding to the card fields, a bar supporting said sensing devices and adapted to be oscillated in the direction of the columns of perforations on said cards, means for electromagnetically controlling the entries in the accounting mechanism, said means including several groups of contact pieces, conductors connecting said groups of sensing devices with the related groups of contact pieces for control by the related card field, a rotatable selector having contacts adapted to contact with only one group of contact pieces at a time, and means for shifting said selector to cause the contacts thereof to cooperate with the next group of contact pieces after completion of an oscillation of said bar.

5. In a machine controlled by cards havin" columns of perforations, a plurality of columns comprising a card field, an accounting mechanism for adding the numbers represented by said card fields, a sensing device for each card column, the sensing devices being arranged in groups corresponding to the card fields, means for controlling the entries in said accounting mechanism, said means incluling several groups of contact pieces, a selector carrying conductors associated *ivith the accounting mechanism connecting said groups of sensing devices with the acounting mechanism by said groups of contact pieces for control of entries represented by the card fields, automatic means for shifting said selector step by step from normal and means for selectively plugging said groups of contact pieces to card sensing devices so that certain of said columns of perforations may control the entries in the accounting mechanism.

6. ,The combination as set forth in claim 5 including a special contact piece carried by the selector and adapted, after entries represented by each controlling card field has been entered, to control the restoration of the selector to its normal position.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 4 including means to hold the selector in successively shifted position, and a spring connected to said selector for returning the same to its original position.

8. In a machine controlled by cards having columns of perforations, a plurality of columns comprising a card field, an accounting mechanism for adding the numbers represented by the card fields, a sensing device for each card column, means for electromag netically controlling the accounting mechanism, said means including groups of contact pieces, conductors connecting said groups of contact pieces to corresponding sensing devices, and a rotatable selector carrying a single group of contacts adapted to engage said groups of contact pieces in succession, said groups of contact pieces being so arranged so that after the selector contacts contact the last of the group of contact pieces they contact the first group of contact pieces upon a one step movement of the selector in the same direction. I

9. In a machine controlled by cards having columns of perforations, a plurality of columns comprising a card field, an accounting mechanism for adding the numbers represented by said groups of columns, a sensing device for each card column, the sensing device being grouped in correspondence with the columns comprising the card fields and adapted to analyze each card field, and means for operatively and automatically connecting in succession each of the groups of sensing devices to said accounting mechanism to control the entries in the same as said-sensing devices repeatedly analyze the card so that lid said accounting mechanism will register the sum of the numbers represented by the several card fields of the same card.

10. In a machine controlled by cards hav in columns of perforations, a plurality of co umns comprising a card field, an accounting mechanism for adding the numbers represented by said card fields, a sensing device for each card column, the sensing devices being arrang d in groups corresponding to the card fields and adapted to analyze said card fields, and means for operatively connecting in succ ssion each of the groups of sensing devices with said accounting mechanism to control the entries in the same as said sensing devices successively analyze the card fields, so that said accounting mechanism will register the sum of the numbers represented by the several card fields on the same card, said means including groups of contact pieces, conductors connecting each group of sensing devices to a related group of contact pieces, a selector, a group of contacts on said selector and automatic mechanism for successively connecting the accounting mechanism to each group of contact pieces by shifting the selector step by step for successive control by the several card fields.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a single accounting device, of analyzing devices for analyzing the several card fields of the same perforated record, and means for associating a different card field with the accounting device for each analyzing operation while the record is retained at rest.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a single accounting device, of several sets of electrical analyzing devices for successively analyzing a corresponding number of record fields of the same record, and means for eflecting in succession the correlation of the single accounting device with the sets of sensing devices to effect the entries from the several record fields in the accounting device under control of the analyzing devices.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a single accounting device, of analyzing devices arranged in sections correlated Wit the several card fields of the same perfora ed record, and means for correlating in siiccession, while the record is being analyzed at rest, the single accounting device with each of the several sections of the analyzing devices.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a single accounting device, of analyzing devices for analyzing each of the several card fields of a record having value representing designations and while the record is at rest, and means for correlating in succession the single accounting device with each of the several card fields to receive in succession the values determined by 85 said analyzing devices.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a single accounting device, of several sets of analyzing devices for analyzing successively a corresponding number of fields of a record, means for causing each entry to be directly eifected in said accounting device, and means whereby the last named means effects in invariable succession the several entries determined by said sets of analyzing devices.

16. In a machine of the class described controlled by a single card having several fields of perforations representing entries, each field constituting several card columns, 1 a single accounting device, perforation analyzing devices one for each card column, and means efi'ective while maintaining the normal columnar relationship between the analyzing devices and the columns of perfora- 1 tions for connecting the single accounting device to receive successively the entries from the several card fields under control of the analyzing devices.

In testimony whereof I have afn'xed my sig- 110 nature.

GUSTAV TAUSCHEK. 

